The United States and Japan will step up their defence cooperation to deal with the threat from nuclear-armed North Korea as tensions in East Asia remain high, officials from the two allies said on Thursday.

Qld police search for missing Cairns teen

Police are appealing for information in their search for a 15-year-old girl who was last seen in Cairns on Wednesday.

The girl has been described as Caucasian, about 160cm tall and with shoulder-length blonde hair, and may be in the company of a 27-year-old man who is around 177cm tall with a medium build, brown hair and brown eyes.

Police are urging anyone who may have seen the girl or know her whereabouts to contact police on 131 444.